Controversy Over 'BTS Goods Delivery Refusal' That Angered Chinese Fans... "Could This Also Be Manipulated?"

Controversy Over BTS Goods Delivery Refusal by Chinese Couriers... Rumors Possible
No Official Notice on Accounts... "Manipulation for Marketing Account Views" Criticized

Group BTS. Photo by Big Hit Entertainment.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Amid controversy over the Chinese logistics giant Winda announcing it would no longer ship products related to BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan), rumors have surfaced that two other Chinese logistics companies have also announced they will not ship BTS merchandise.

According to Weibo and other sources on the 20th, Yuantong, a top-three logistics company in China, and Zhongtong, a mid-tier company, each announced on the 18th and 19th respectively that they would not ship BTS goods.

They stated, "Due to the BTS controversy, the General Administration of Customs has issued a policy to more strictly supervise printed materials and printed products," adding, "As a result, other Korean products may also be affected."

The posts, shared in screenshot form on Weibo, sparked anger among Chinese BTS fans known as ARMY.

However, there is evidence that the posts were manipulated by marketing accounts aiming to increase Weibo views.

Currently, the official accounts of Yuantong and Zhongtong do not have these posts.

Another basis for the rumor is the affiliation between Yuantong and Zhongtong. Although the two companies have different names from Winda, their ownership structures show they are affiliates of Winda.

Therefore, there is a possibility that these posts were made around the same time following Winda’s policy and later deleted.

Chinese BTS fans have pointed out, "Someone is maliciously spreading controversy," and emphasized, "There should be no more actions that hurt feelings related to BTS."